Dave Lee, author of The Hairy Arsed Builders Guide To Stress Management, explains why he’s committed to bringing compassion and wellbeing to the construction industry
—This is article #54 in our series of #100Voices4Men and boys
I have been builder for 25 years and I’m fully aware that ‘compassion’ and ‘wellbeing’ are not the key words you hear when thinking about the construction industry!
So why introduce them now?
The construction industry is driven by programmes, It wants a quick turn around for maximum profit. It places heavy emphasis looking after the workers physical health and little-to-none on the workers mental health and well-being.
I had to wonder if the concepts of compassion and wellbeing work in such a hard and fast paced environment; where the macho image is dominant? Also how would I go about introducing such concepts into an environment where no one likes being told what to do or may think embracing these concepts might be a sign of weakness?
Our company is called ‘Building Site to Boardroom’ and we are currently working within construction to introduce these values & concepts.
There’s a big push for wellbeing within the construction industry. They have all the tools for doing the work on the outside, but where do they go to make life easier on the inside?
It’s taken years for health and safety to be at the standard it is now. It’s been a drip-drip process of getting the message across through introducing personal and social responsibility.
The construction industry desperately needs a shake up and to look at and take care of its workers total well-being, not just their Health and Safety.
Cultivating a culture of compassion and wellbeing is not another fast passed money driven project, it will take time for the concepts we suggest to be embodied.
The main thing I have learnt when introducing this stuff is the difference between the two values of Personal Responsibility and Social Responsibility (or otherwise known as guiding principles). We are taught a whole lot of social responsibility (‘Social Responsibility’ means everything outside of yourself; promises you make, rules you should follow, targets you should hit, feeling and being part of the workforce, team or community) and not very much personal responsibility: and this is where a lot of our problems start appearing.
I found that by introducing four core values stress amongst workers lessened. Working on them has worked wonders on the workforce and benefit they have had has been astounding. They are as follows:
‘Personal responsibility’ means taking responsibility for my feelings, thoughts, words, and actions to take nothing personally.
‘Personal integrity’: I will do my honourable best, especially when nobody is watching.
‘Authenticity’: The choice to express myself honestly and openly and to make no assumptions.
‘Equal dignity’: To see and to treat others as my equal without judgment.
I presently work within a construction company called Bower Contracting ltd. I have been introducing the 4 values to their team: Here are just two examples of the effects it is having…
Dan a project manager:
Dan was suffering relationship problems and he was having time off work as the stress was getting to him, he couldn’t cope with his work load as well. We worked with Dan on increasing his mindfulness and on incorporating the core values into his home/work life.
Below, in his words, is what he said: “Our crossing paths couldn’t have come at a better time in all honesty Dave, this focus and controlling thoughts is easier than I thought and just pushing the self critical thoughts away is very rewarding, I’m taking back control!!
I was sitting there watching a movie last night and I was thinking away….and felt like shit. Then the awareness kicked in……I immediately felt better. My work life and family life has improved using these core values and awareness”
James contracts manager
James had been struggling with a situation with his teenage son, they were regularly getting into confrontations, so I introduced him to the core values and the use of personal language. This was the feedback he gave me:
“Good Morning Dave, may I take this opportunity to thank you for changing the way I look at life and work. I personally found an immediate effect from our meeting of which I am grateful to you. Good luck with your venture of which I am sure will change many people’s view of the way they look at life and work and become better people, and maybe one day in the future a better society.
James”
I have so many other stories to share… but I feel these sum up the work we are doing to cultivate a culture of compassion and Wellbeing within construction.
‘Building a house every brick counts, building a person it’s every thought that counts’
—Picture credit: Dierk Schaefer
You an contact Dave Lee of Building Site To Boardroom at info@bs2b.co.uk.
You can find all of the #100Voices4Men articles that will be published in the run up to International Men’s Day 2014 by clicking on this link—#100Voices4Men—and follow the discussion on twitter by searching for #100Voices4Men.
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